Catocala whitneyi
kah-TOCK-uh-lahmmWHIT-nee-eye
Dodge, 1874

Catocala whitneyi North Dakota, courtesy of Gerald Fauske.

This site has been created by Bill Oehlke at oehlkew@islandtelecom.com
Comments, suggestions and/or additional information are welcomed by Bill.

TAXONOMY: Superfamily: Noctuoidea Family: Noctuidae Group: Noctuinina Subfamily: Catocalinae Genus: Catocala, Schrank, 1802

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DISTRIBUTION: Catocala whitneyi, Whitney’s Underwing (wingspan: 43-50mm) flies from the Plains states: North Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas eastward through Wisconsin to Ohio unconfirmed and Tennessee unconfirmed. It may be found as far west as Minnesota (confirmed by Tom Middagh) to Utah. In Canada, specimens have been taken in Manitoba. Catocala whitneyi is similar to abbreviatella Grote, and nuptialis Walker, but generally flies later in the season where the species overlap. The two black wedges/triangles on the forewing, one over the reniform spot and the other just outside the antemedial line, distinguish whitneyi. Catocala whitneyi pair, Worthington, Minnesota, July 7, 1994, courtesy of Tom Middaugh.

It has also been reported in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri and South Dakota.

FLIGHT TIMES AND PREFERRED FOOD PLANTS:

Catocala whitneyi flies as a single generation with moths on the wing from July into August. The Catocala whitneyi caterpillar feeds on Leadplant.

Catocala whitneyi female, Worthington, Nobles County, Minnesota, courtesy of Tom Middagh.

ECLOSION:

Adults eclose from pupae formed under leaf litter.

Catocala whitneyi, Worthington, Nobles County, Minnesota,
43mm, July 27, 2009, courtesy of Tom Middagh.

Catocala whitneyi (verso), Worthington, Nobles County, Minnesota,
43mm, July 27, 2009, courtesy of Tom Middagh.

SCENTING AND MATING:

Catocala whitneyi females emit an airbourne pheromone and males use their antennae to track the scent plume.

Catocala whitneyi, Worthington, Nobles County, Minnesota,
43mm, July 12, 2009, courtesy of Tom Middagh.

Catocala whitneyi (verso), Worthington, Nobles County, Minnesota,
43mm, July 12, 2009, courtesy of Tom Middagh.

EGGS, CATERPILLARS, COCOONS, AND PUPAE: Eggs are deposited on tree bark in the fall and hatch the following spring. Mature larvae Image courtesy of

Larval Food Plants

Listed below are primary food plant(s) and alternate food plants. It is hoped that this alphabetical listing followed by the common name of the foodplant will prove useful. The list is not exhaustive, although some species seem very host specific. Experimenting with closely related foodplants is worthwhile.

Amorpha spp.......

Leadplant

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